06/20: Turning Point?
Posted by: James
The Yankees have gone 3-8 in their last 11 games due to a lovely confluence of some of their hitters slumping (Melky & A-Rod spring to mind), some shoddy defense (I'm looking at you Jorge & Cano) and some just plain bad luck. Of course, there has also been some (mostly) shoddy starting pitching. Even including the last two starts (and a great start by Wang against Cleveland), the numbers from the starters are not pretty: 5.40 ERA, 5.5 Ks, 3.0 BBs and 1.25 HRs per 9.
Still, the last two nights, while not wins, were positives. Both Wang & Johnson pitched very well and on most nights, they would have won. They just got unlucky. However, if we get consistent pitching like that, more often than not, this team will be getting the win. It's just too good not to.
A-Rod's getting hotter and it looks like Jeter and Giambi are as well. Between the three of them, they could carry this team for weeks at a time. It also looks like a great time to move Melky Cabrera from the 2-hole to lower in the line-up. When he's getting on base at a .370, he's an asset. When he's not (and he hasn't been in a little while), he's getting closer to Bubba Crosby territory. However, in the end, it will come down to what it always seems to comes down to: the kind of starting pitching the Yankees get. So far, they have gotten nothing from Shawn Chacon and if he wants to keep his starting role, he'd better start shaping up soon. Unfortunately, the Yankees have a lot of options in terms of starters right now. Man, I wish Rasner hadn't gotten hurt - it would have been a great time to give him a shot. Heck, if he can come back and rehab well (and Chacon continues pitching as he has), he'll still be one of the first in line. What happened to all the pitching depth we had at the beginning of the season!? Oh well...anyone want to throw out pitchers the Yanks could legitimately acquire that might help?
Still, the last two nights, while not wins, were positives. Both Wang & Johnson pitched very well and on most nights, they would have won. They just got unlucky. However, if we get consistent pitching like that, more often than not, this team will be getting the win. It's just too good not to.
A-Rod's getting hotter and it looks like Jeter and Giambi are as well. Between the three of them, they could carry this team for weeks at a time. It also looks like a great time to move Melky Cabrera from the 2-hole to lower in the line-up. When he's getting on base at a .370, he's an asset. When he's not (and he hasn't been in a little while), he's getting closer to Bubba Crosby territory. However, in the end, it will come down to what it always seems to comes down to: the kind of starting pitching the Yankees get. So far, they have gotten nothing from Shawn Chacon and if he wants to keep his starting role, he'd better start shaping up soon. Unfortunately, the Yankees have a lot of options in terms of starters right now. Man, I wish Rasner hadn't gotten hurt - it would have been a great time to give him a shot. Heck, if he can come back and rehab well (and Chacon continues pitching as he has), he'll still be one of the first in line. What happened to all the pitching depth we had at the beginning of the season!? Oh well...anyone want to throw out pitchers the Yanks could legitimately acquire that might help?
